walker



Feb. 21, 1956 A. J. WALKER 2,735,551

GRAVY SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1953 INVENTOR. ARNOLD d. WALKER United States Pater-1t O GRAVY SEPARATOR Arnold J. Walker, Queens, N. Y.

Application February 9, 1953, Serial No. 335,890

2 Claims. (Cl. 210-51) This invention relates to improvements in a gravity separator device, and more particularly to a gravity separator that may be utilized for separating grease from gravy and the like.

The housewife finds it difficult to separate liquid matter having different specific gravities during the course of pursuing her culinary art. This is basically true because developments in the art covering separators have in the majority of instances been confined to the larger units, such as are employed in the commercial dairy, petroleum and like fields. It is obvious that separators of the type set forth would prove unwieldy and unadaptable for household use.

It is a prime object of the invention to provide an improved gravity separator device which is light in weight and may generally be used for the separation of materials having different viscosity or specific gravity, and more particularly the separation of grease from gravy or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved gravy separator which is economical to manu facture and is positive in action.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved separator wherein the catch unit may be further utilized once the separation operation has been completed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the invention is fully described in the following specification, which is to be read with reference to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, and taken along line 1--1 of Figure 2, and showing the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the gravity separator of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the invention comprises a pair of concentric containers. The first, or outer container includes a weighted base 12, and a generally cylindrical wall 14. The weighted base 12 includes outwardly extending and downwardly tapered section 16, which gives the unit a comparatively low center of gravity, and prevents possible tipping when the unit is in use.

The cylindrical wall 14 is formed with a top spout 18 and a handle 20. Within the container 10 and forming a part of the cylindrical wall 14 are a plurality of guide channels 22, which extend longitudinally along the wall for a portion of the length of the wall, preferably from the top to the lower limit of travel of the wings of a second or inner container.

The second or inner container 24 includes a weighted base portion or section 26, and is provided with a plurality of feet 28, exaggerated in the figure. Extending upwardly from base section 26 is a tapered cylindrical wall of smaller diameter than the wall 14, and designated herein by the numeral 30. On the outer surface of cylindrical wall 30 are formed a plurality of wing members 32, which are positioned to fit within each of the several guide channels 22, and ride therein in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base.

2,735,551 iPatented Feb. 21, 1956 The upper limit of cylindrical wall 30 is bordered by a cylindrical trap 34. Trap 34 is formed with an outer lip 36 and an inner lip 38, and a channel 40 therebetween. A handle 42 is mounted within and secured to the base 26 at approximately the center thereof.

In operation, hot gravy is poured into container 10 until it reaches a minimum predetermined height. With the grease proceeding to rise to the top of the gravy as it momentarily stands, the problem of separating the grease from the gravy is solved by the invention. As the second concentric container 24 is forced downward, the grease is forced to rise until it overflows the rim or border cylindrical trap 34. As the catch container 24 is further depressed, more grease is caused to flow over the top of said container and fall into said second container 24. Trap 34 acts as a visual indicator of the material flowing over the top of container 24, and determines the extent to which said container is depressed in the separation process. Gravy which may enter the trap may be poured off without grease from the trap.

The containers have been formed as cylindrical members to insure a minimum of disturbance of the liquids within the first container as the second container is depressed into the first container. It is obvious that variations in the shape of the container may be made Without departing from the invention, and I therefore request that the appended claims be interpreted within the spirit and scope of the invention with consideration of the possible variations from the disclosed embodiment, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A gravy separator comprising a first container and a second container concentric with and of smaller diam eter and lesser height than said first container, said first container including a plurality of guide channels of equal length extending along the longitudinal axis of said wall, and said second container including a plurality of wing members in alignment with said guide members, one of said wing members of said second container riding in each of said guide channels, a weighted base at the bottom of said second container and a trap extending around the upper perimeter of said second container, said trap comprising an outer wall and an inner wall extending below the level of said outer wall and a channel within and between said walls.

2. A gravy separator comprising a first container and a second container concentric with and of smaller diameter and lesser height than said first container, said first container including a guide channel extending along the longitudinal axis of said wall, and said second container including a wing member in alignment with said guide member, said wing member of said second container riding in said guide channel, a weighted base at the bottom of said second container and a trap extending around the upper perimeter of said second container, said trap comprising an outer wall and an inner wall extending below the level of said outer wall and a channel within and between said walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,065 Lincoln Aug. 1, 1882 842,086 Dixon Jan. 22, 1907 1,615,765 Laws Jan. 25, 1927 2,082,845 Osborne June 8, 1937 2,537,848 Novion Ian. 9, 1951 2,575,768 Pearsall Nov. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 791,908 France Oct. 7, 1935 

